Bill Foster Sworn In As Member of Congress
Foster promises to represent 14th District and work across the aisle to address the challenges facing this country
(Washington, DC) - Today, scientist and businessman Bill Foster was sworn into office as the member of Congress representing Illinois' 14th District. Foster took the oath of office on the floor of the House of Representatives beside his Democratic and Republican colleagues.
"It is my solemn hope that we have less shouting in Washington, and more problem solving. We need to work together for energy independence, for tax cuts for middle class families, to expand health care to more children, for a return to fiscal discipline and for a new direction in Iraq," Congressman Foster said.
Foster was elected on Saturday in a special election to complete the term of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. The 14th District stretches across Northern Illinois, from the far western suburbs of Chicago, including Aurora and Elgin, almost to the Mississippi River.
"When it comes to the issues we face in this nation, I plan on approaching them as a scientist - and that means listening to both sides and doing what's right for the people of Illinois and America. As the newest member of Congress, my message to this body from the people I met during my campaign is that families across this country want us to act differently. At a time of crisis around the world and economic trouble here at home, Americans want us to end the divisions between us and work together to solve the problems we face," said Foster. "Many of the challenges this country faces are economic and they are technological, and as a scientist and businessman, I look forward to tackling these issues together."
"As someone who spent more than 20 years working in a lab - I can tell you without a moment's hesitation - that we, as Americans, have the intelligence, the ingenuity and the technology to solve the problems we face. I know we have the desire. Through bipartisanship we can achieve the changes all of us seek," Foster added.
Foster has lived in the Fox Valley - part of the 14th District - for over 23 years, where he raised two children. As a physicist at Fermilab in Batavia, Foster was involved with the discovery of the top Quark. Prior to his scientific career, Foster and his brother friend founded a company - Electronic Theater Controls, which now provides over 70% of the theater lighting in the United States.